title: Four-rod stabilization of severely destabilized lumbar spine caused by metastatic tumor.
abstract: We report a case of a 67-year-old female with severely destabilized lumbar spine caused by metastatic malignant tumor. The primary lesion was a thyroid follicular adenocarcinoma. Complete destruction of the L3, L4, and L5 vertebrae had resulted in severe instability, which left the patient with severe back pain and bed-ridden. Since the vertebrae were so severely damaged at 3 levels, 4 rods were used to stabilize the spine. Following stabilization, the pain was alleviated and the patient's quality of life improved. We introduce here the 4-rod technique to stabilize the spine over 3 vertebral levels following severe destruction by metastatic tumor.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Teikyo University Mizonokuchi Hospital, 3-8-3 Mizonokuchi, Takatsu-ku, Kawasaki 213-8507, Japan.
authors.forename: Isao
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Shibuya
authors.forename: Koichi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sairyo
authors.forename: Yasuo
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kanamori
authors.forename: Akira
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dezawa